Vaporizer.



No. 645,644. Patented Mar. 20, I900.

0. A. JOHNSTON.

VAPORIZEIL (Application filed Jan. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: lA/l/E/VTOI? ATTORNEYS.

' NITED STATES OLIN A. JOHNSTON, on NEW YORK, N; "r.

. VAPORIZER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,644, dated March 20, 1900.

Application filed January 17,1899. Serial No. 702,410. (No model.)

in Vaporizers, the object thereof being to provide a device of this character in which thevapor may be applied in its purest state and without being mixed with the fumes of the oil or gas 'used to generate heat in the apparatus, which tends to nauseate the person using it and the direct heat of which tends to dry and lessen the effectiveness of the vapor.

The invent-ion consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the several parts and will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the device, partly broken away; and Fig. 2 is a plan view with .the covers removed.

In the practice of my invention I employ a cylindrical pedestal a, provided with an opening 1), adapted to receive a lamp 0 for the purpose of heating the water contained within the device. A series of perforations d cl near the upper part of the pedestal provides ventilation for the same. Mounted upon said pedestal a is a tank 6, preferably cylindrical in form and constructed of sheet metal. A diaphragm f, preferably of metal, extends across said tank near its upper end, and the central portion thereof is provided with a series of perforations g g. A metallic cylinder h is mounted upon this diaphragm concentric with the walls of the tank 6 and inclosing the perforations g g. Its top is closed by means of the screw-cap j. At a point between the diaphragm f and the upper end of the cylinder h a pipelc of metal is'fixcd to the wall of said cylinder and projected through the wall of the tank 6, said .pipe affording communication between the chamber m and the outside of the device.

A cover n is adapted to fit the upper part of. the tank 6 and inclose. the cylinder hwitli its screw-oapj.

A hose 0 is fixed upon the end of the pipe 70 projecting'through the side wall of the tank e, and affords communication between the chamber m and a vapor-distributor p, to which it is fixed. The said vapor-distributer p is preferably wedge-shaped in cross-section and provided with aseries of holes 0",- through which the vapor is adapted to escape.

In the operation of the device the cover n and screW-capj are removed and the tank 6 partially filled with water. A sponge saturated with the drug to be vaporizedis placed within the chamber or immediately above the perforations g g and the screw-cap j placed in position, The lamp 0 is then lighted and placed within the pedestal a. When the tem perat-ure of the water within the tank 6 has risen to a degree sufficient to generate steam, the person using the device holds the distributer p in the position adjacent to the nostrils, covering the head and the distributer with a towel to prevent the escape of the vapor. As the steam passes up from the tank e through the perforations g g into the chamberm it comes in contact with the saturated sponge and becomes impregnated with the drug. The screw-capj prevents its egress from the chamber m in an upward direction, and it passes through the pipe 70 into the hose 0 and distributor p, from whence it escapes through the holes 1' r.

It is obvious that the medicated vapor can be applied to any part of the body other than the head in the same manner as that described and that the vapor will contain none of the fumes from the alcohol or oil used to heat the water in the device. 7

If preferred, the pedestal a may be dispensed withand the tank 6 provided with fittings to mount it upon an ordinary gas-fixture, if more convenient.

Various changes may be made in the design of the device without departing from the scope of my invention.

It will readily be seen that the removal of the distributor from close proximity to the generator effectually prevents the heat arising from the lamp or otherheater from acting as a drying agent upon the vapor de-- livered from the distributera serious defect in other devices of a similar character.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a vaporizer, the combination of a cylindrical steam generator 6 formed with a curved diaphragm f provided with perforations g leading into a chamber m mounted upon said diaphragm, said chamber being adapted to contain a saturated sponge or towel for medicatin g the moist steam as it comes up through said perforations g in the diaphragm, a hollow wedge-shaped distribu terp provided with perforations r to allow the escape of steam,

the said distributer 19 being suitably con OLIN A. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

SYDNEY J. PRESCOTT, C. P. COLTON. 

